JP2003334985A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a printer in which head information stored in a thermal head can be taken in and controlled depending on the characteristics of the thermal head. <P>SOLUTION: A thermal head 5 has a ROM 51 for storing the head information, e.g. manufacturer code, head density and head resistance, and the P/S 151 at a head control section 15 provides the thermal head 5 and an S/P 152 with a transfer clock and data latch, and provides the thermal head 5 with print data in synchronism with the transfer clock. A CPU 11 takes in the head information in synchronism with the transfer clock from the ROM 51 through the S/P 152 and stores it in an EEPROM 21. The CPU 11 reads out the head information stored in the EEPROM 21 appropriately and controls the thermal head 5 depending on the characteristics thereof through the head control section 15 thus performing print processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus that acquires information about a print head and performs print control according to the structure and characteristics of the print head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional label printer as a printing device, data is exchanged with a thermal head 50 for printing in one direction as shown in FIG.
Only print data is supplied to the thermal head 50. In the example shown in FIG. 11, a transfer clock, print data, and a data latch are supplied to the thermal head 50 from a head control unit (not shown) that controls the thermal head 50. It operates in synchronization with the clock and prints the print data on a specified paper.

[0003]

As described above, the prior art is as follows.
Since no data was sent from the thermal head 50 to the head controller of the label printer main body, for example, the manufacturer's code, model code, serial code, head density, head resistance, and other heads specific to the thermal head 50. In order to obtain the information, it is necessary to store these head information in the memory of the label printer main body in advance and read the head information corresponding to the thermal head 50 attached to the label printer. For that purpose, it is necessary to manually input the identification code of the mounted thermal head 50, and there is a problem that the operation at the time of head replacement becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to easily and quickly obtain information specific to the head and perform print control according to the type and structure of the head. It is a thing.

[0005]

A printer according to claim 1 is a printer for printing predetermined print data on a predetermined paper, comprising a print head for printing the print data on the paper, and a print head for the print head. Removable printing means including a memory for storing characteristic information indicating characteristics, conveying means for conveying a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction, reading means for reading characteristic information from the memory of the printing means, and reading by the reading means It is characterized in that it comprises: storage means for storing the stored characteristic information; and control means for controlling the conveying means and the printing means based on the characteristic information stored by the storage means. Further, the characteristic information includes a head resistance value of the print head, and the control means can determine the applied energy to be applied to the print head based on the head resistance value. Further, the characteristic information includes the head density of the print head, and the control means can adjust the carrying distance per dot of the carrying means according to the head density. Further, the printing means may have a self-diagnosis means for self-diagnosing the print head, and the control means may control the printing means according to a self-diagnosis result by the self-diagnosis means.

[0006]

1 shows an example of the configuration of an embodiment of a label printer to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer 100 includes a control unit 10 that controls each unit and a thermal head 5 that prints on a sheet 1.
And a stepping motor 7 driven by the control of the control unit 10 and a rotational driving force of the stepping motor 7 transmitted via a timing belt (hereinafter, simply referred to as a belt) 8 to rotate and supply the power to be described later. A platen roller (hereinafter simply referred to as a platen) 6 that conveys the sheet 1 set on the shaft 2 and presses the sheet 1 against the thermal head 5, and a supply shaft 2 that rotatably supports the sheet 1. , A guide roller 3 for guiding the paper 1 to the thermal head 5, a light emitting portion for emitting a predetermined light, and a reflected light from the paper 1 of the light emitted from the light emitting portion,
It is composed of a light receiving unit that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of received light (amount of light received per unit time). The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged on the back side of the sheet 1 to print on the back side of the sheet 1. The pitch sensor 9 detects the eye mark (black rectangular mark) formed by the above-mentioned method based on the amount of light received by the light receiving section. Further, when the paper 1 is a label attached to the mount, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged so as to sandwich the paper 1, and the gap between the labels is determined based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit. You may make it detect by detecting. Further, the thermal head 5 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores information (head information) specific to the thermal head 5.
51) (FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration example of the embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the control unit 10 includes a ROM 12 that stores a predetermined control program.
And a CPU (central p) that operates according to a control program stored in the ROM 12 and controls each unit.
processing unit) 11 and a RAM for storing various data necessary for the CPU 11 to operate.
(Random access memory) 13
And an EEPROM (electrically e) that stores various data that should be retained even when the power is turned off.
rasable and programmable
read only memory) 21, a motor controller 14 that supplies a pulse signal to the stepping motor 7 to rotate the stepping motor 7, and print data such as characters, figures, and barcodes to be printed supplied from the CPU 11. A control signal for generating a control signal to be supplied to the thermal head 5 to perform a printing operation, and at the same time, a head control unit 15 for taking in head information stored in the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 and the pitch sensor 9 under the control of the CPU 11. The CPU controls the light emitting unit to emit light, receives the electric signal output from the light receiving unit, converts the electric signal into digital data, and outputs the data as pitch detection data to the CPU.
The sensor control unit 16 is provided to the sensor 11, the external interface 17, and the interface 20. Also,
An input unit 18 for inputting various data and commands and a display unit 19 for displaying input data and various information input from the input unit 18 are connected to the control unit 10 via an interface 20. ing. The input data input from the input unit 18 is C via the interface 20.
Display data supplied to the PU 11 and corresponding to various information displayed on the display unit 19 is supplied from the CPU 11 via the interface 20. Further, various data and commands can be transmitted / received to / from various devices such as a personal computer (PC) 200 externally connected via the external interface 17.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the detailed structure and operation of the head controller 15. As shown in the figure,
The head controller 15 includes a parallel / serial converter (P /
S) 151 and serial / parallel converter (S / P) 1
52 and the like. The head control unit 15
The transfer clock, the data latch, and the print data are supplied to the thermal head 5 via / S151. The transfer clock and data latch are S / P15.
2 is also supplied.

When the label printer 100 is powered on, the CPU 11 of the control unit 10 activates a predetermined control program stored in the ROM 12. Under the control of this control program, the head controller 15 controls the thermal head 5
Is initialized. That is, the head controller 15 transmits initial data (for example, data such as NUL) to the thermal head 5 in synchronization with the transfer clock. Thermal head 5
When receiving the initial data from the head controller 15,
The head information stored in the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 is output in synchronization with the transfer clock. The S / P 152 of the head controller 15 takes in this head information output from the ROM 51.

The size of the information exchanged via the P / S 151 and S / P 152 is a standard bit size (8, 16, 32 bits, etc.). The captured head information is sent from the S / P 152 through the CPU 11 to the EE.
It is supplied to the PROM 21 and stored in a predetermined area of the EEPROM 21, or directly from the S / P 152 to the EEP.
It is supplied to the ROM 21 and stored in a predetermined area of the EEPROM 21. The head information stored in a predetermined area of the EEPROM 21 is appropriately read by the CPU 11. Therefore, the CPU 11 can acquire the configuration and characteristics of the thermal head 5, the manufacturer code, and the like, which are necessary when performing the printing process.

Further, the S / P 152 has a memory function (FIF
O) and stores the head information fetched from the thermal head 5, the CPU 11 directly outputs the S / P 15
It is also possible to read the head information stored in No. 2.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing how head information is fetched in synchronization with a transfer clock. The head information is fetched in synchronization with the transfer clock used when transferring the print data. The head information taken from the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 is taken into the S / P 152 as serial data. Then, in S / P 152, the captured serial data is converted into parallel data. When performing conversion from serial data to parallel data, it is necessary to synchronize.

As a method of synchronizing, as shown in FIG. 5, a method of synchronizing with a transfer clock using a data latch, and as shown in FIG. 6, a synchronization character (SYN) of several bytes at the head of head information is used. There is a method of synchronizing by adding only minutes.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 5, the thermal head 5
Supplies the head information to the S / P 152 in synchronization with the data latch and the transfer clock supplied from the P / S 151. Immediately after detecting the rising edge of the data latch, the S / P 152 converts the head information from serial data to parallel data in synchronization with the transfer clock. In the case of this example, it is converted into 8-bit parallel data. A header (STX) indicating the start of the head information is added to the head byte of the head information, and the data after that is the content of the head information. At the end of the head information, a footer (ET
X) (not shown) is added.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 6, the thermal head 5
Sends the head information to the S / P 152 in synchronization with the transfer clock.
Supply to. The S / P 152 converts the head information into parallel data and detects the sync character (SYN).
In the case of this example, a synchronization character is added to the first 3 bytes of the head information. The S / P 152 sequentially converts serial data into parallel data, and when a sync character is detected from the data converted into parallel data, the subsequent data that is not a sync character is regarded as head information. In the case of this example, serial data is sequentially converted into 8-bit parallel data. A header (STX) indicating the start of the head information is added to the head of the head information, and the data after that is the content of the head information. A footer (ETX) indicating the end of the head information is added to the end of the head information.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a head information sending format sent by the thermal head 5. As shown in the figure, the head information includes a header (STX) indicating the start of the head information, the number of information bytes indicating the size of the information (for example, 26H), and data indicating the manufacturer name (for example, "SATO"). ) And data indicating the type name (for example,
[ABC123]), data indicating a serial number, and data for error check (for example, 19H).
And a footer (ET indicating the end of head information)
X) and.

The head information specific to the thermal head 5 stored in the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 is, for example, the following information. The head information is information necessary for controlling the thermal head 5. (1) Manufacturer name or manufacturer code (2) Model name or model code (3) Serial number (4) Head density (unit is dot (dot) / millimeter (mm), or dpi) (5) Head resistance Value (unit: ohm (Ω)) (6) Variation in head resistance value (unit: percent (%)) (7) Head size (unit: inch or mm) (8) Number of dots (unit: (Dots / lines) (9) Maximum transfer rate (unit: megahertz (MHz)) (10) Maximum heating element power supply voltage (unit: volt (V))

The CPU 11 downloads these head information from the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 via the head controller 15 and determines the control method of the label printer 100 based on the downloaded head information. For example, the rotation angle of the stepping motor 7 is determined based on the head density, and the layout of the print data expanded in the image expansion area (not shown) in the RAM 13 is changed. The image development area is an area for developing font data of characters included in the print data, barcode data, and the like as a bitmap image.

The magnitude of the applied energy to be applied to the thermal head 5 is determined based on the head resistance value (average value of all resistance values of the thermal head 5 (total resistance value of each heating element)). . Further, the head information such as the manufacturer code and the model code can be appropriately downloaded and printed when performing maintenance such as head replacement, and the maintenance work can be performed based on the manufacturer code and the model code. , The work can be streamlined.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the manufacturer code database stored in the EEPROM 21. This database includes a manufacturer code of each manufacturer, a company name (company name) corresponding to the manufacturer code, identification data of printer control software corresponding to the manufacturer code, parameters, and the like. For example, the manufacturer code is 0
The maker name of the maker of No. 1 is company A, and the control software and parameter of the printer of company A is a. Therefore, the control software for controlling the thermal head 5 and the parameters to be passed to this software can be obtained from the manufacturer code included in the head information stored in the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5. Thereby, the control corresponding to the thermal head 5 can be performed. The control software can be prepared individually for each company's printer, or one control software that can control each company's printer by changing the parameters can be prepared.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the head resistance value database stored in the EEPROM 21. This database is composed of a head resistance value and applied energy (unit: watt (W)) corresponding to the head resistance value. Therefore, from the head resistance value included in the head information stored in the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5,
The optimum applied energy value to be applied to the thermal head 5 can be acquired. If the same value as the head resistance value included in the head information stored in the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 does not exist in the head resistance value database, the applied energy value corresponding to the closest head resistance value is selected. . In FIG. 9, for example, a (volt (V)) corresponding to the applied energy corresponding to a head resistance value of 800 (Ω) is a voltage value applied to the thermal head 5, and B (strobe) is a voltage value applied to the thermal head 5. It shows the time for applying the voltage of B (V). The current value is a predetermined value. The magnitude of the applied energy corresponding to each head resistance value is predetermined based on the head size, the head density, and the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S1, the CPU 11 fetches head information from the thermal head 5 by the method described above. Next, in step S2, the CPU 11 causes the step S
The head information acquired in 1 is stored in the EEPROM 21
Supply to and store.

Next, in step S3, the CPU 11
Reads the manufacturer code in the head information stored in the EEPROM 21 and sets a manufacturer-specific control sequence corresponding to the manufacturer code. For example, when the manufacturer name corresponding to the manufacturer code is company A, the control method is determined so that the control is performed in the sequence corresponding to the thermal head 5 of company A. Similarly, when the manufacturer name corresponding to the manufacturer code is company B, the control method is determined so as to perform control in a sequence corresponding to the thermal head 5 of company B. When the manufacturer name corresponding to the manufacturer code is C company, the control method is determined so that the control is performed in the sequence corresponding to the thermal head 5 of C company.

Next, in step S4, the CPU 11
Reads the head density in the head information stored in the EEPROM 21. Then, the rotation angle per step of the stepping motor 7 is set based on the head density. Next, the layout of the image development area, in which the print data is developed, set in the RAM 13 is set. For example, the higher the head density, the smaller the rotation angle per dot of the stepping motor 7 is set, and the lower the head density, the larger the rotation angle per dot of the stepping motor 7 is set. Further, the higher the head density is, the finer the printing is possible, the size of the image development area is set to a size corresponding to the head density.

Next, in step S5, the CPU 11
Reads the head resistance value in the head information stored in the EEPROM 21 and sets the applied energy corresponding to the head resistance value based on the head resistance value database shown in FIG.

Next, in step S6, the CPU 11
For, it is determined whether or not the input unit 18 has been operated to give a print instruction. As a result, if it is determined that the print instruction has not been issued, the process of step S6 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the print instruction has been issued, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the CPU 11
The thermal head 5 is controlled via the head controller 15 based on the set value, and at the same time, the stepping motor 7 is controlled via the motor controller 14 based on the set value to execute the printing process.

Next, in step S8, it is determined whether or not the end of processing is instructed by turning off the power of the label printer 100 or the like. As a result, when it is determined that the end of the process is not instructed, the process returns to step S6, and the processes of step S6 and subsequent steps are repeatedly executed.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the end of the process has been instructed, the present process ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the head information stored in the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 is fetched, and based on the fetched head information, electrical adjustment work such as adjustment of print density is performed. Since it is possible to perform the control automatically and to perform the control suitable for each thermal head 5, it is possible to reduce the work of the user when replacing the thermal head 5 and the work of the service person who performs the maintenance service.

If control software corresponding to or compatible with the thermal heads 5 having different characteristics from each manufacturer is prepared in advance, the head information is fetched from the thermal heads 5 to recognize the type of the thermal heads 5, By controlling the thermal head 5 according to the control software corresponding to the thermal head 5, it is possible to automatically perform optimum control. For example, when the thermal head 5 is replaced, the head density becomes 200 dpi to 60
Even in the case of changing to 0 dpi, it is possible to automatically perform control according to the head density and obtain a good printing result.

Further, the thermal head 5 has a CPU and an AS.
IC (application specific i)
It is also possible to mount an integrated circuit) or the like to have an intelligence function. And
It is also possible to perform self-diagnosis or the like, output the result as head information, and supply it to the CPU 11 via the head control unit 15. The head information obtained as a self-diagnosis result is as follows, for example.

(1) Accumulated energization time (unit is hours) (2) Total number of pulses (unit is pulse) (3) Predicted life time (unit is hours) (4) Disconnection information (5) Current head resistance value (unit: Ω) (6) Feedback of heat history control

This head information is variable data because it changes from moment to moment. Therefore, this head information is required at any time, but each time the print data is transferred to the thermal head 5, the head information is fetched and the EEPROM 21 is read.
Alternatively, since the head information stored in the S / P 152 is updated, the CPU 11 causes the EEPROM 2 to operate as necessary.
1 or the head information stored in the S / P 152 may be read.

Based on these self-diagnosis results, the CPU
11 makes it possible to perform more appropriate control according to the characteristics and deterioration state of the thermal head 5 at the time of printing.

In addition, head information (mainly manufacturer name, model,
The serial number and the head density) can be displayed on the display unit 19 as necessary. Thus, when inspecting the thermal head 5 or performing maintenance such as repair, the manufacturer name, model number, serial number, head density, etc. of the thermal head 5 can be easily confirmed, and the work efficiency can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the label printer has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other printing apparatuses.

In the above embodiment, the manufacturer code database is stored in the EEPROM 21, but the ROM 51 of the thermal head 5 may be stored with data corresponding to the manufacturer of the thermal head 5.

Further, the head information and the sending format used in the above-mentioned embodiment are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

Further, it goes without saying that the configurations and operations of the above-described embodiments are examples, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0040]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the removable printing means includes the print head for printing the print data on the paper, and the memory for storing the characteristic information indicating the characteristics of the print head. The conveying unit conveys the paper in a predetermined conveying direction, the reading unit reads the characteristic information from the memory of the printing unit, the storage unit stores the read characteristic information, and the control unit stores the characteristic information. Since the conveying means and the printing means are controlled based on the characteristic information stored by the means, even if the print head is replaced, the characteristic information can be read from the memory of the print head to meet the characteristics of the print head. Print control can be performed. Further, if the printing means has a self-diagnosis means for self-diagnosing the print head, and the control means controls the printing means in accordance with the self-diagnosis result by the self-diagnosis means, the current status of the print head It is possible to perform the optimum control according to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of a label printer to which a printing device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a head control unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how head information is output in synchronization with a transfer clock.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how head information is converted into parallel data in synchronization with a data latch and a transfer clock.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing head information transmitted with a synchronization character added.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a head information transmission format.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a manufacturer code database.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a head average resistance value database.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing print processing based on head information.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing data exchanged with a conventional thermal head.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 sheet 2 supply axis 3 guide rollers 5 thermal head 6 Platen roller 7 Stepping motor 8 belts 9 Pitch sensor 10 Control unit 11 CPU 12,51 ROM 13 RAM 14 Motor control unit 15 Head controller 16 Sensor control unit 17 External interface 18 Input section 19 Display 20 interfaces 21 EEPROM 100 label printer 200 pcs 151 parallel / serial converter (P / S) 152 Serial / parallel converter (S / P)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing device for printing predetermined print data on a predetermined paper, comprising: a print head for printing the print data on the paper; and a memory for storing characteristic information indicating characteristics of the print head. A removable printing means, a carrying means for carrying the paper in a predetermined carrying direction, a reading means for reading the characteristic information from the memory of the printing means, and the characteristic information read by the reading means. A printing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores the storage unit; and a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit based on the characteristic information stored by the storage unit. 2. The characteristic information includes a head resistance value of the print head, and the control means determines the applied energy to be applied to the print head based on the head resistance value. The printing device according to claim 1. 3. The characteristic information includes a head density of the print head, and the control means adjusts a carrying distance per dot of the carrying means in accordance with the head density. The printing device according to claim 1. 4. The printing means has a self-diagnosis means for self-diagnosing the print head, and the control means controls the printing means according to a self-diagnosis result by the self-diagnosis means. The printing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3.